Aviation Takes Flight into the AI Era: Riyadh Air Becomes World's First AI-Native Airline

The aviation industry has just witnessed a historic milestone. Riyadh Air, in partnership with IBM, has officially launched as the world's first AI-native airline, fundamentally changing how airlines operate and serve passengers.

Unlike traditional carriers that retrofit AI onto existing systems, Riyadh Air was built from the ground up with artificial intelligence at its core. This groundbreaking approach eliminates decades of legacy technology constraints that have limited innovation across the aviation sector.

Revolutionary AI Integration Across Operations

Riyadh Air's partnership with IBM Consulting has created an unprecedented technological foundation involving 59 workstreams and over 60 partners, including Adobe, Apple, FLYR, and Microsoft. The airline uses IBM watsonx Orchestrate to power its AI-native operations from day one.

Key innovations include:

• Smart Employee Experience: A personalized digital workplace powered by AI agents gives staff a single, chat-first entry point to HR systems, streamlining workflows as the airline doubles its workforce over the next 12 months
• AI-Powered Crew Operations: Mobile applications create connected employee-guest journeys, with AI concierge services that prompt staff to offer personalized services, such as fast-track assistance for delayed passengers
• Enhanced Customer Care: AI-enabled voice bots and agent assistance help customer service teams deliver contextual, anticipatory support using real-time data

Operational Efficiency Drives Innovation

Built without legacy system constraints, Riyadh Air leverages AI to create new revenue opportunities and optimize performance. IBM Consulting implemented an enterprise performance management suite that integrates financial, operational, and commercial data across the organization, enabling real-time insights and data-driven decision making.

This integrated approach allows the airline to optimize route profitability and enhance overall business performance while supporting Saudi Arabia's goal of connecting to over 100 destinations and serving millions of travelers by 2030.

"We had a clear choice—be the last airline built on legacy technology or the first built on the platforms that will define the next decade of aviation," said Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer of Riyadh Air. With initial flights underway and commercial service expected in early 2026, this partnership demonstrates how AI-first thinking can transform entire industries.

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